Facial-recognition programs being used without safeguards

Consumer Action was one of fifty national civil rights, civil liberties, faith, and privacy organizations that sent a letter to the Justice Department urging it to investigate the increasing use and impact of face recognition by police. The letter comes amid mounting evidence that the technology is violating the rights of millions of Americans and having a disproportionate impact on communities of color.

The coalition letter sent to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division explains how federal, state and local police forces use driver license photos to identify suspects —without warrants, accuracy tests, or audits. Police departments across the country are frequently using face recognition technologies to identify and track individuals — whether crossing the street, captured on surveillance cameras, or attending protests. Existing deficiencies within this surveillance system are likely to have a disparate impact on African-Americans and should not be operated without safeguards. Half of all adults in the country are in government face recognition databases, yet the vast majority of law enforcement agencies using this technology lack clear policies, audits to ensure accuracy, and transparency.